Monday 15 September 2014 21:57, UK
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes Mario Balotelli will relish the responsibility of being the team's senior striker.
The Italy international is set to lead the Reds’ attack in Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Bulgarian side Ludogorets at Anfield in the absence of the injured Daniel Sturridge.
The 24-year-old will be Liverpool’s third most experienced player in Europe's elite club competition, with 29 Champions League appearances, which puts him behind only Steven Gerrard (67) and Kolo Toure (62).
Balotelli has failed to sparkle in his first two appearances - including Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa - which extended his goalscoring drought to six club games,
However, Rodgers believes he will embrace the responsibility as Champions League football returns to Anfield following a five-year absence.
"Time will tell. The boy is only just in the door," said Rodgers.
"The best players enjoy that responsibility and I am sure it is one he is relishing but on the training field he is going to work hard to accept that responsibility knowing he has been brought in here to do a job which is to create and score goals and work hard.
"He was unfortunate he was ill last week and it was only on the morning of the game (Saturday's defeat to Aston Villa) he declared himself fit to play, which shows he really wanted to get out and play here.
"He is also experienced as well. He is arguably one of the most experienced players we have in terms of this competition and international calibre and at club level."
Balotelli found himself on the receiving end of some rough stuff from Philippe Senderos and Alan Hutton against Villa, but Rodgers does not envisage a similar problem in Europe.
"We expect the referee to protect all our players, not just Mario," he added.
"It is a man's game. It is a competitive game but if it oversteps the mark when he's not involved in the build-up then we would expect the referee and officials to look at it.
"But there are no complaints for me. Football is competitive and strong and we ask the players to be that in our team but be fair in the way we work."
